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Charter schools in Salem, MA

1 school in Salem, 11 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Salem charter schools at a glance

1 public charter school gives Salem as its address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 11 more are within 15 miles. The school had about 480 students in 2024-25. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

480 students, 2024-25
$0 tuition

Charter schools in Salem (1)

Largest first. Enrollment and teachers are from 2024-25; schools new in 2025-26 have no count yet.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Phone
Salem Academy Charter School 6-12 480 11 (978) 744-2105

Nearby, within 15 miles (11)

Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Miles Phone
Marblehead Community Charter Public School 4-8 192 12 Marblehead 2 (781) 631-0777
KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School K-12 1,637 13.8 Lynn 3 (781) 598-1609
Pioneer Charter School of Science II K-12 621 11.8 Saugus 7 (781) 666-3945
Mystic Valley Regional Charter School K-12 1,698 15.5 Malden 9 (781) 388-0222
Pioneer Charter School of Science K-12 795 11 Everett 10 (617) 389-7277
Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School Chelsea 9-12 198 19.9 Chelsea 10 (617) 889-3100
Excel Academy Charter School 5-12 1,379 10.8 East Boston 10 (617) 874-4080
Community Charter School of Cambridge 6-12 251 9 Cambridge 13 (617) 354-0047
Prospect Hill Academy Charter School PK-12 890 10.6 Cambridge 14 (617) 284-7800
Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School PK-6 352 18.5 Cambridge 14 (617) 497-7771
Boston Collegiate Charter School 5-12 708 9.7 Dorchester 15 (617) 265-1172

Charter schools: how they work

  • Public and free. NCES describes a public charter school as a publicly funded school, usually run by a group or organization under a contract (the charter) with the state, the district or another body. The federal definition says a charter school does not charge tuition.
  • Families choose it. Under the same definition, a charter school is one parents choose to send their children to, and it admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for.
  • Its own rules, its own accountability. The charter frees the school from some state or local rules; in return it must meet the standards written in its charter. It is nonsectarian.
  • No program badge. ChoiceFunded’s program badges and “schools that accept” lists cover private schools only. Charter schools are listed separately here, with no badge, and are never counted with private schools.

Sources: 20 U.S.C. 7221i (federal Charter Schools Program definitions); NCES, Condition of Education: Public Charter School Enrollment. Each state writes its own charter law, so ask the school how enrollment works there.

Keep looking

Questions parents ask

How many charter schools are in Salem?

1 public charter school in the 2025-26 federal directory is in Salem, and 11 more are within 15 miles. Salem Academy Charter School.

Do charter schools in Salem charge tuition?

No. Charter schools are public schools, and the federal definition of a charter school says it does not charge tuition. Ask each school about fees for extras.

How do I enroll in a Salem charter school?

Apply to each school directly. Under the federal definition, a charter school admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for, so check each school’s application dates. Each state writes its own charter law.

School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.

See charter schools How enrollment works